I’ve been using  MAC Mineralized All-Over Lotion on myself and others and I only wish it came in a larger size! It contains key ingredients like muru muru butter, aloe and charged water infused with diamond powder. It feels very lightweight and gives tons of moisture and hydration to the skin. What I like the best about this product though, is the gorgeous sheen it leaves behind. It’s not shimmery in anyway, but instead leaves dewy glow. Amazing on the face as it’s fragrance free. Love it on the body for moisture and a beautiful glow.

If your false lashes need to be trimmed to fit your eye, cut from the outer corner and save the piece you cut off. Once your false lashes are glued on take the piece you trimmed and, stack it on top of the lash at the outer corner for more depth.

Image from Monika Robl Photography.

The Beaute Weightless Lip Creme is exactly that, weightless. This liquid lipstick feels like nothing on your lips. It goes on really smooth and even, and delivers an opaque semi matte  finish. I don’t find it extremely long wearing, but touching up is easy as it comes with a doe foot applicator. Mango Butter and Vitamin E mean that your lips feel moisturized. There’s also an ingredient that stimulates collagen for plumper looking lips. I wear the colour Severine which is the perfect yellow based beige brown. Another fabulous addition to my nude lip collection!

We all know make up does not last forever. Many cosmetics products have a small picture of an open jar with a number on it, on the primary or secondary packaging. This indicates how long a product is good for once it’s been opened. This is very useful especially for products that have SPF or other active ingredients as these have a shorter shelf life. Use your judgement. If something looks or smells funny, err on the side of caution and do not use no matter how long you have had it.  I generally follow this rule of thumb: powder products like eyeshadow, face powder, and blush are fine for up to 3 years. Lipsticks about 2 years, and glosses 18 months. Liquid foundations and concealers I would use for up to 2 years. Be careful with products that are used around the eye area and have a wand applicator like some liquid concealers. Don’t keep these products past the recommended expiration date.

The number one product that should definitely be discarded after 10-12 weeks is mascara. Bacteria thrives in dark moist places like the inside of a mascara tube. Since this product comes into contact with the eyes it is imperative that it’s changed frequently to avoid anything like this happening: A friend of mine used an old mascara that was laying around in her make up kit for I don’t know how long. Soon after applying her eyes started to burn and weep uncontrollably. She ended up in the hospital where they found tiny bugs in her lashes! Fortunately for her she received medical attention in time and is not blind! Don’t let this happen to you.

There are only a few months left of Winter and because Spring is not officially here, we’re in between seasons. I think this is the perfect time for a fresh faced natural look. Chloe, Stella McCartney, and Phi (RIP) SS 10, all had excellent examples of the no make up, make up look. I recommend starting with a perfect canvas. Using my usual concoction of a hydrating mist and moisturizer followed by concealer on any unwanted blemishes, and under eye circles. Powder the T-zone but leave the cheeks for a natural sheen. Brush through brows with a clear gel to keep them in place. Curl lashes and add a good dose or lengthening mascara to make the eyes pop. A touch of tinted lip conditioner on lips and you’re good to go.

What’s your routine for natural make up?

Images from style.com

Affectionately known as CCB, Cream Colour Base is a multi purpose product that should be in every girls make up bag, and every make up artists kit. This product comes in lots of colours from light to dark, but Pearl is definitely one of my favourites. It’s my go to product for fashion shows, photo shoots, brides, and for the everyday person who just wants to look perfectly highlighted, and dewy. The lightweight cream texture makes it really easy to use with a brush or fingers. It’s the best highlight colour on almost every skin tone. Apply on tops of cheek bones, under the brow, cupids bow, and collar bone. Use it underneath frost eyeshadows to intensify the shine and depth of colour. It is whatever you want it to be: lipstick, blush, or eyeshadow.

What always stands out to me about Rhianna is her honey coloured skin, and pretty light eyes. Both of these features were a focus in her make up, when she visited the Jonathan Ross show in the UK. Starting with the skin, I would use Nars Sparkling Loose Powder in Gold Rush. Apply anywhere skin is exposed to get a warm shimmery glow. To replicate the cool toned smoky eye, apply the darkest colour in the Armani Eyes to Kill Palette, on top of a cream base shadow to intensify the colour. Use a soft tapered blending brush to pull the shadow out towards the temple to create the elongated shape. Apply the light beige shadow as a highlight on the brow bone. False lashes are a must have to add more drama to the eyes. I like the Make Up Forever Nude Lash 158, they’re thick at the base of the lashes and give lots of length. No smoky eye is complete without the right lip. Rhianna’s bronze peach lip could be achieved with Michael Kors for Estee Lauder Lip Sheen in Honey Blonde.

Image from gossiponthis.com

Statement making hair accessories were on the runway, and red carpet for AW 09 — who can forget the LV bunny ears? Hair ornaments continue to be a trend for SS 10. Feathers seem to be the way to go as they were strategically perched on top of models heads at Chanel. An easy way to glam up any ‘do. I especially like the crystal, and jewel embellished barrettes and combs, it’s like jewelry for the hair!

Here are some of our favourite hair accessory brands:

Carolina Rodriguez

Bambako

Jennifer Ouellette

The obvious night out must haves, that keep you looking as fabulous as when you first stepped out the door are: whatever lip product you’re wearing, compact mirror and powder or something to absorb oil. A couple of cotton swabs to remove unwanted smudges around the eyes.

Expert Tips:

1. Load up a covered brush with your lipstick colour and put the top on. You’ll have enough product on the brush to touch up throughout the night, and it’s one less product to carry in your purse.

2. Stay shine free for photos with either a translucent pressed powder or oil absorbing papers. For those who get super shiny blot with the paper first, try MAC Blot Film. This will remove excess oil without the build up that repeated powdering can leave.

3. Smoky eyes can start to travel as the night goes on. Use a cotton swab to clean up eye kohl that smudges.

Before the end of the year arrives a few big movies will hit the theatres just in time for the 2010 awards season. (Golden Globe nominations were this morning) Over the past week premieres and promotion have begun, where we’ve seen standard red carpet looks that work every time. Rachel McAdams and Gwen Stefani at the premiere of Sherlock Holmes, show off two different shades of red. Adding further evidence to the fact that, there is a red lipstick that works for everyone. Penelope Cruz at the Nine premiere, and Zoe Saldana at Avatar, left their hair down, and focused on dark smoky eyes and neutral and matte lips.

Images from justjared.com

As far as false lashes go these are the best for a natural look. What makes them so wearable, is that the longest length is in the middle rather than on the outer corners. This gives the effect of bigger, rounder eyes, rather than exaggerated length on the corners. #33 lashes are dark brown and not black which also gives a more subtle look. These lashes are made from natural hair, and can be used multiple times.

Truth be told, I’m not a fan of Taylor Swift’s usual look. So when we saw these in T magazine I was pleasantly surprised. I think it’s the combination of bright blue eyeshadow and fire engine red lips that are just so eye catching. We know this might not be the go to look for most peoples day to day lives, but a toned down version could be pulled off under the right circumstances. Therefore we recommend the following key products: Anastasia Brow Gel for groomed brows that take a back seat to the overall look. The YSL Ombre 5 Lumieres in 5 Riviera is the perfect palette of blues. Applied with a soft brush you can achieve a less dramatic look. Recreate the crisp red lip with YSL Rouge Volupte Lipstick in Red Temptation. For sculpting the cheeks a matte blush works the best, try Revlon’s Barely Buff. Essie Nail Polish in Lollipop completes the look.

Images from nytimes.com

As winter sets in we inevitably gravitate towards this seasons tweeds and woolies. A neutral palette for the face is the perfect make up look for this trend. This monochromatic look is brought to life by playing with texture. MAC Bountiful Brown Power Point Pencil has a subtle bronze shimmer to it. The Kevyn Aucoin eyeshadows contain both matte and frost finishes to add dimension to the eyes. Finish with the ever so relevant nude lip, in either lipstick or gloss. You have yourself an understated, yet beautiful look.

Images from style.com, and netaporter.com

Yves Saint Laurent has a few products in their skin care line up referred to as Top Secrets. It features their niche products for the person who goes beyond basic skincare. Pore Refiner Skincare Brush is a translucent serum that once applied to the skin minimizes the look of large pores and imperfections. It also mattifies oily skin for a shine free complexion. I apply the pore refiner after moisturizer and before foundation, which makes a great makeup base for anyone with oily prone skin.

Blackened wine colours are not just for the nails this season. Cosmetic brands like Chanel, Nars, and MAC all launched the intense hue for the lips too. To some, wearing black lips may seem way too goth than fashion forward. But the reality is anyone can wear the black lip depending on how it is applied. (See point 4.) Also to be taken into consideration is skin tone. What may seem far too extreme on a fair blonde can be absolutely stunning on someone with dark skin.

Here are our tips for wearing black lipstick:

1. Prep the lips before starting. MAC Prep & Prime Lip lightly moisturizes, smooths the lips texture, and helps prevent bleeding.

2. Line the lips with a lip pencil. Try a black cherry color like MAC Currant Lip Pencil to take the edge off the black. Make sure to follow your natural lip line and then fill in your lips about half way.

3. Use a lip brush for precise application. It also applies less lipstick to the lips for a more smooth and even look.

4. If you still are too scared of black, try a deep wine color lipstick like Lipstick Queen’s Wine Sinner. Or try mixing in a little black lipstick to darken up your reds, and burgundys.

Images from maccosmetics.com and style.com

New to the scene and already making a name for herself is Ranya Mordanova. She’s already been dubbed as a “rising star” and one of the “top ten newcomers” by several industry insiders. Since debuting in New York this February, Ranya’s managed to score editorials in French Vogue, W and V magazine as well as a lucrative ad campaign with Givenchy. And that’s just to name a few!

During London Fashion week in September, I worked with Ranya at Christopher Kane and Jonathan Saunders. Intense eyes, severe bowl cut, poreless pale skin, and the most adorable pout. A guarantee that she stands out in a crowd.

Images from style.com and models.com

We heart this trend for Fall 2009. Everyone knows you cannot go wrong with sooty dark eyes and pale lips. Almost every makeup line has their version of the “black out” trend. MAC’s Grease Paint Stick with Chanel’s Eye Gloss smudged on top creates a fabulous punky eye. Add to that a sharp shouldered jacket, and leather accessories. It’s so incredibly hot. You have to wear this look with attitude and confidence. It’s not for shrinking violets.

Images from maccosmetics.com, style.com, and netaporter.com

Before removing dark nail polish apply a salve on cuticles and along the sides of nails. The salve acts as a barrier to prevent the polish from getting stuck in the cuticles and from staining the skin around the nail.

Image from chanel.com

About five years ago I watched Francesca Tolot do a master class. Her demeanor was so sweet as she shared her tips with a quiet Italian accent. With her portfolio that included editorial pages from Italian Vogue and Glamour, her career in the USA started with a music video for Madonna. Since then she has worked with numerous celebrities: Christina Aguilera, Eva Longoria, Catherine Zeta-Jones, to my favourite Beyonce. The two have been working together for a few years, and Francesca can be accredited for some of Beyonce’s best make up moments. Beyonce’s latest videos and CD cover for I Am Sasha Fierce, as well as the stunning looks in the movie Dream Girls, are all the work of Francesca Tolot.

http://www.francescatolot.com/